Jessica Johnson

JESSICA JOHNSON

I had been heavy all my life. At 11 years old, I weighed 150 pounds and that's when my dieting began. By the time I was 12, I'd lost 70 pounds, only to gain it all back. After getting married and having a baby, I added even more weight.

By the summer of 2007 I realized my weight was limiting not only my life, but also my family's. My three-year-old son had never been to the beach because I was too embarrassed to go. That summer was my turning point and I knew I was ready to make a change.

I decided to have weight loss surgery at Palmetto Health Baptist. Since having the gastric band procedure just over a year ago, I've lost 117 pounds. I not only look better, I feel better, and my family is enjoying the difference, too. We even took a trip to the beach that summer.